Preventing children's mental health escalating

The funding, which is set to provide care and support for young people over the duration of five years, was a key feature of the Budget.

Caroline Hope, director of Deloitte's social care practice, said of the funding: "Increasing both the funding, and the attention, given to this vulnerable group of children and young people is a positive step. With pressures on budgets in local government set to drive further cuts into services, the challenge of how to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and young people in society is here to stay.
 
“All too often, children with complex mental health needs are referred to social services because other public services are unable to meet their needs. This increase in funding for mental health services should help prevent this and ensure children can be quickly assessed and support can be put in place to help them, and their families, receive the right kind of services close to home."
 
The Liberal Democrats have said that the extra cash will ensure the NHS has the resources to treat more than 100,000 young people by 2020, as well as pregnant women and new mothers.

Hope commented further: “Early help in this way should help prevent an escalation of problems or a crisis that means families can’t cope and children and young people enter the care of the local authority.”